An AIDS-riven Upper West Side heir was sentenced to six to 12 years in prison yesterday for the 1997 slaying of man he took in as his valet.

Richard Plastik, 40, was initially charged with murder, and was convicted in November in a non-jury trial for shooting James Connor during a days-long cocaine binge.

“I can use what’s left of my life to change and make amends for taking James’ life,” Plastik said, before Justice Leslie Crocker Snyder handed down the sentence.

“I did a horrible thing – but I’m not a horrible person.”

Snyder could have imposed a sentence of up to 25 years on the first-degree manslaughter and weapons convictions. But she took mercy on Plastik after hearing his lawyer, Daniel Gotlin, describe the life of jailhouse rape and extortion led by Plastik since his arrest in 1997.

Snyder said there was “some hope” for Plastik, but told him, “Your life is a tragedy because you threw it away.”

Connor’s father, John, was outraged not only at the sentence, but what he felt was a lack of concern for the victim and his family.